A Swiss Spartan?

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Looking at his sleeve more closely…

Give up the K31? Only if the foes take all of the GP11 first, center mass. Then, the bayonet.

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Most guns will do if you will

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Out of these three rifles, I’d have to go with the SKS by preference. SVT40 has a harsh recoil and complex disassembly, K31 has an awkward safety and the paper/foil clips have to be oriented in a specific way for loading. SKS, at least compared to the other two, comes across as a more modern and ergonomic weapon.

As you can see from the patch, Suarez training is well regarded by the Swiss. Several people spoke well of his teaching style and doctrines.

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Ammunition production since 1863

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Oleg Volk

While in Thun, Switzerland, I visited the parent company of RUAG. As the stained glass indicates, they have been producing gunpowder and ammunition since 1863. My friend Melissa Gilliland is quite fond of their match ammo, and Ashbury Precision Ordnance recommend it for all their rifles. Also got to visit their amazing history museum that contains such rarities as a 1913(!) equine gas mask and various experimental firearms.

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Personal Defense Weapon

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Oleg Volk

BT9 is basically a 9mm pistol with a shoulder stock to aid in accurate shooting. In semi-auto form, it works well to 200m, especially with an optic like the Trijicon Reflex 2 shown. Nearly no felt recoil. A great defensive tool for people who lack the strength to operate a full-size carbine and who cannot control a hard-recoiling pistol.  Naturally, it’s heavily regulated in the US as a “short-barreled rifle”.

Swiss shooters are trained to use the same stance with all shoulder-fired weapons, hence the “elbow up” position. As with the other Swiss-made guns I tried, this one was 100% reliable and very accurate.

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Keltec P32 pistol in Swiss use

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Oleg Volk

P210 and P220 are the official pistols in Swiss army, militia and some police use. I also saw Glock and Sphinx pistols in police holsters. But the most common “unofficial” sidearm seems to be the P32. My Swiss friends estimate that about a third of all military and police carry it as a backup, and it’s very popular with others as well.

P3AT and Ruger LCP also show up but far less frequently. I saw one LCP, no P3ATs and about twenty P32s during my trip. Some people bought P32s in lots of ten against future need. They consider P32 to me a 100 meter gun in the sense that it’s accurate enough to give 50% or better hit probability on a silhouette target. I watched them do it consistently. The same people consider P210 to be a 200m gun.

And yes, it’s a Picatinny rail on a Schmidt-Rubin K31 carbine.

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Sig552 carbine with a Trijicon scope

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Oleg Volk

After a day of running around and controlling the rifle with one hand part of the time, the appeal of short carbines becomes compelling. Optics negate the reduction of the iron sight radius. Muzzle velocity does drop some but not enough to make a difference up close. Pity these aren’t importable to the US and restricted when manufactured domestically.

The full amount of gear worn is enough to make a small 5.56mm rifle a desirable alternative to the 7.62 MBR — and this guy’s kit doesn’t even include armor!

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The mainstay of the Swiss infantry

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Sig550 with 4x optic from 1976. QD mount allows true return to zero. The scopes are slowly getting phased out as the supply of parts runs out.

The thin bipod is surprisingly sturdy and allows good control of automatic fire. It can be removed very quickly without tools. Fire selector is Safe-1-3-30 but the slow rate of fire makes 3 unnecessary. The trigger and the sights are very good. The fire selector lever is too short for most people and the rifle has to be turned to the side for it to be reached easily.

Reliability in the dozen rifles I’ve seen used (including mine) was 100% over a full-day course in all kinds of weather. I literally did not see a single stoppage of any kind over 300+ rounds per person. In my opinion, this rifle is superior in handling and operation to both M16/AR15 and to the US-made Sig556.

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Recent fun and games.

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Both days featured sunshine, rain, snow and hail mixed up randomly.

Alain Baeriswyl is an exceptionally good coach. Both the shooting course and the Minuteman training were informative, challenging, fun and lend themselves to further practice of the skills taught.

The outfit looks goofy but was very comfortable and practical. Schmidt-Rubin stripper clips are goofier by far.

Day one featured Sig550 and P210, Day two K31 and P210, including successful 100m pistol shooting. Lots of detailed reviews of training and gear coming up, and political commentary as well.

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Steel target sweepstakes

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Oleg Volk

My friend Brad at Challenge Targets is giving away one of his neatest targets, a stake clanger. As the picture below shows, it’s very simple and robust. Takes about a minute to assemble, and only a few seconds to install at the range.

When hit, it wavers for a while, providing visual feedback along with the loud clang. Great for extended range rifle practice. Here’s how it looks when in use:

Enter to win.

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Take the Star Road

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Peter Grant’s new book Take the Star Road is now available at Amazon. I read it when it was being edited and re-read it again when making the cover design. I recommend it, especially if you like the style of early Heinlein. The book is far more about people and culture than it is about future technologies, which is how it should be. 1984 would have been less interesting if Orwell described the specification and maintenance details of the telly screen in greater detail. Much of the plot came from the author’s extensive adventures in rough and scary parts of the world.

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Using offset red dot sight

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Let’s say you are using a 1-6x scope set to 6x when you suddenly need to make a precise shot much closer. One way to do that is to turn the rifle 45* (or some lesser angle if you have an appropriate mount) and use a red dot or backup iron sights.

Just like this. Also works if the main optic gets damaged.

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Little girl and her chaperone

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Oleg Volk

The pair was watching the graduation ceremony at Vanderbilt Law School. The man’s niece — little girl’s mother —  got her diploma.

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Encouraging sights at the NRA convention.

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Oleg Volk

This boy, at the show with his grandfather, was excited about an aftermarket stock for his 10-22 that was a perfect fit.

The girl, at Savage Arms booth with her mother and older sister, was trying out a Stevens 512 over/under 12ga shotgun.

The next generation was very much in evidence, and acquitted themselves very well.

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RFB in mid-cycle

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Oleg Volk

No muzzle rise even while the bolt is still moving forward to chamber the next round.

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Sweet 16

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Oleg Volk

And a sweet 58, too.

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One of the office workers at Primary Arms

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Oleg Volk

AK with Primary Arms micro red dot on an Ultimak rail, US Palm magazine.

It’s nice to work with people who understand their own products.

Muffs are MSA Pro-X, same as what I use at home. Looking into switching to Tactical Hearing Protection fitted plugs, like Chris Cheng. Got a molding of my ears done at the NRA show.

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Back from the NRA show.

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Full report would take more time than I have, so I will start with a few photos.

Chris Cheng with IWI Tavor and Primary Arms light and soon to be released red dot.

The same rifle with a rather nice 6x BDC scope.

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An Aryan superman

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Oleg Volk

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О женщинах

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Есть женщины в русской пехоте
Их снайперами зовут
Врага в перекрестье загонят
И за пол-версты попадут

Иной их не сразу заметит,
Когда в камуфляже они
И с пулей в башке он закончит
Свои беспокойные дни

А если их словом обидеть, невежливостью оскорбить
То лучше бы некультурному на свете и вовсе не жить
В руке недрожащей Люгер выдаст громкий отказ
И в голове непутёвой зажмурится третий глаз

А коли гость тот усопший привёл с собою друзей
То в магазине хватит свинца и для них, поверь
Жестом широким девушка хулиганов благословит
К ногам её в землю сырую улечься их убедит

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For close range and much further out

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Barrett REC7 (6.8mm) with Vortex 1-4x scope. The shooter is an Army Captain, a veteran of the Afghan campaign.

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